บท 129: Surrender
"This brat can use amaterasu now huh?"
"I better keep him in Konoha forever, or I am finished."
"Is this what you are thinking, second hokage?"
Sato said with a chuckle while sitting on the ground, his tired face didn't show much fear even if he was in possible danger.
"What..? No I am not thinking anything like that."
Tobirama looked shocked before he quickly denied Sato's guess. Hell no, he can't agree to something so politically incorrect.
Even if Tobirama truly wanted to keep Sato in Konoha forever, preferably as a dead body, he couldn't take action openly.
'Raikage said my plans out loud; now if something happens to him, it will be my fault.'
'What a terrible scheming mind.'
Tobirama narrowed his eyes and came to a sad conclusion: he had to let Sato go, even if he wanted to kill him.
Meanwhile Hashirama, who was watching all this silently, felt Tobirama's struggle and knew his brother was still thinking of killing the Raikage.
Hashirama refused to let that happen; enough is enough. Raikage must not be attacked any further.
"Tobirama. No. More. Fighting."
Hashirama's simple personality had vanished, and in its place, the god of Shinobi had appeared.
Hashirama was a peace-loving individual; he had no problem bowing to far weaker individuals if it meant bringing peace.
Similarly, neither was he opposed to killing even his best friend if it meant maintaining peace.
This is why Hashirama was upset at Konoha sneak attacking the Raikage—very upset. Now as long as he was here, no one would be further wronged by Konoha, and neither can anyone wrong Konoha.
In fact, Hashirama's words weren't for Tobirama alone; they were for everyone involved in this situation.
"I hope everyone can stop this meaningless fight. Let everything end here."
Hashirama looked at hidden sand and hidden cloud while saying this. His words were soft, but strangely, nobody had the courage to deny him.
Even Sato's fighting spirit was stagnant for a split second when he sensed Hashirama's aura.
'Are you kidding me? What is that aura? He is not even at 1/50 strength and he makes me feel like a small animal with his gaze.'
'This is not chakra pressure or strength; this is Hashirama's pure determination and nothing else.'
Sato's pupils were shaking, sensing Hashirama's aura forced him to rethink his own strength.
He knew he was far from reaching super-shadow strength, but he didn't think there was this much difference on a spiritual level as well.
"We, the hidden sand agree to retreat."
Gaara was the first one to speak up in this silent environment; without Rasa alive, he had to take up leadership and agree to the retreat.
Hashirama felt happy about this; he nodded to Gaara with a small smile, then looked at Sato's group again.
Sato narrowed his eyes; he could smell the fear coming from his men. They wanted to get out of here; he could smell that.
It was in their best interest to leave now, and not go against a serious Hashirama.
But.
"I refuse to retreat like this."
"Your village sneak attacked me twice."
Sato can't possibly leave just like that. Even if Hashirama's aura made it clear there was no room for anymore discussion, Sato still got up.
"Raikage, I apologize on Konoha's behalf. Please don't continue this meaningless fight."
Hashirama apologized seriously but he stuck to making peace. He refused to let Sato or anyone continue this meaningless war.
Even if this meant defeating Sato, his men, and the Hidden Cloud village all by himself, Hashirama would do it, if that's what it takes.
And Sato knew this, as did his men.
"Sato Sama, please don't do this. Hashirama is the god of Shinobi. We don't need to do this."
Samui spoke while holding Sato's shoulder involuntarily. Sato turned silent when he heard this.
Terrified. This was the emotion he was sensing from his men.
"Sigh... Fine. The hidden cloud decides to retreat."
Sato gave in; he gave in and retreated for Darui and Samui's sake. Maybe losing Neji's team had made him into a better leader; even Sato wasn't sure if his decision was right.
But one thing was sure: Hashirama liked his decision very much.
In Sato, Hashirama saw a fearless leader who was ready to let go of his pride for his men.
"Hahaha, thank you everyone. I know Konoha has wronged you a lot, fifth Raikage. But fighting isn't the answer."
"If there is anything I can do for you, please tell me."
Gone was Hashirama's serious aura; in it's place was the goofball first hokage once again.
But nobody was stupid enough to think he was a simple-minded guy anymore. The hidden villages, big and small, quickly retreated from Konoha.
Gaara gave Sato a small nod on the way and left with his village; only Sato's team was still standing in it's place.
Sato did indeed have something to ask Hashirama.
"If you want to do something for me, please help me see where I stand."
Finally, Sato spoke up and told about his condition; he then continued when he saw Hashirama didn't understand him.
"I want to know how powerful you are. I want to know your peak strength."
"I want to see that level, the level which we like to call super shadow."
Sato asked with a gentle smile, which made Hashirama first blink and then laugh.
"Super shadow? Hahaha, what a funny name! You hear that, Tobirama? I am a super shadow!"
Hashirama pointed towards himself with a silly grin, which made Tobirama shake his head with a sigh and a smile.
"Yes, brother, everyone knows you are very strong. You can deal with the Raikage; I will handle Konoha's affairs."
"Konoha cannot stay leaderless. I will stay as a temporary Hokage until a new Hokage is chosen."
Tobirama waved at Hashirama and was about to leave, but his eyes fell on a group of Konoha ninja still standing behind Sato.
"What are you doing? Come with me. Did you forget which village you are from?"
Tobirama scolded Asuma, Kurenai, Anko, Ino Shika Cho, and Kiba. All of these guys were still standing stupidly behind Sato.
"Aah? No, no, we are coming right away. But Kurenai, she's declared a rebel because she was forced to attack the Raikage."
Asuma quickly spoke up and was about to explain more, but Tobirama waved at him.
"Brother ended this fight already. She won't be held responsible if she is innocent."
Tobirama followed Hashirama's advice and simply ignored Kurenai's problem.
Yes, this was not fair to the Hidden Cloud but so what? It's their problem they don't have someone strong like Hashirama.
"Let's go. Of course you can also stay, if you want to join the hidden cloud instead."
Tobirama sarcastically spoke and left directly. He already knew nobody would do something like this.
That's why, when everyone followed him but one person didn't, Tobirama was a bit shaken.
"You are Konoha's special Jonin Anko? Why aren't you moving?"
Tobirama slowly narrowed his eyes at Anko, who was still standing behind Sato for some reason.
"You heard me, right? Then am I right to assume you want to defect from Konoha, special Jonin Anko?"
Tobirama questioned Anko with barely hidden anger. Anko's actions shocked not only Tobirama but also Asuma's group and Sato's own group.
Nobody here had any idea why Anko was refusing to move at such a time.
"Raikage sama. Do you mind if I join Hidden Cloud? Oh I mean, join your company."
"That's the excuse Uchiha clan used when they joined you, right?"
Anko ignored Tobirama and spoke to Sato with a cheerful smile. This made Tobirama's veins pop, but it also made everyone curious.
Would Sato accept her sudden offer? This seemed super sketchy to everyone.
"Sure, you are welcome to join, Anko Mitarashi. I will brief you on your duties shortly."
"We are a big family here; we always help each other."
Yet beyond all expectations, Sato agreed to Anko's surrender cheerfully.
Even if everyone was confused at this exchange, both Sato and Anko's eyes were shining. They both seemed to know what the other was thinking.
"Hmph, let's go."
Finally, Tobirama snorted and left with the Konoha ninjas. Now, Sato's group was truly all alone with Hashirama.
"Samui, Darui, don't worry about Anko. She will be a reliable member; trust me."
"And first Hokage sorry to keep you waiting, if you agree to fight me let's go to the valley of the end."
"Let's finish this deal first and foremost."
Sato grinned and cracked his knuckles. His fighting spirit was rising.
"I know you are far weaker than your prime, so please use edo tensei's infinity chakra as much as you want."
"Stack as much chakra as you need into your attacks; I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes for you to prepare your attack."
"I want to see your peak power, your absolute maximum."
"Sage Art Wood Style: True Several Thousand Hands; I want to experience it's full power."
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker
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